"UNESCO's vote to grant membership to a non-existent Palestinian state is another regrettable example of Palestinian leadership shooting itself in the foot. Instead of sitting down with Israel to negotiate the terms of settling their dispute, President Abbas continues to insist on a counterproductive strategy that makes genuine statehood less likely and more difficult," said Jack Rosen, Chairman of the American Council for World Jewry.

"It's even more frustrating given that President Abbas last week conceded publicly that the Palestinians had made a horrendous mistake in rejecting the 1947 UN Partition Plan that called for a two-state solution. The entire Palestinian narrative of the "Naqba" -- the catastrophe -- was, by his admission, self-inflicted. Unfortunately, we see history repeating itself in President Abbas' unwillingness to take the steps necessary to achieve real Palestinian statehood, with peace and security for Israel."